From staff and wire reports
After being released by the Seattle Mariners, 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher Joe Peeler (East Rowan) is hoping for a comeback with Division II Mount Olive’s baseball program.
Peeler, 20, is the beneficiary of a rule that allows players released by a big league organization to go back to a D-II school for an education, to compete, and, hopefully, be drafted again at some point.
Peeler has to sit out the 2017 season.
He pitched two seasons in the minor leagues, so he’s expected to have two seasons of college elibigility. He’ll be able to pitch for Mount Olive in 2018 and 2019.
Peeler turned down a scholarship offer from UNC Wilmington to sign with the Mariners. He was a 25th-round pick in 2015.
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In Appalachian State’s 4-2 win against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Brian Bauk (Salisbury) and Matt Vernon (Davie) had key hits.
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East Carolina’s Eric Tyler (South Rowan) drove in three runs on Sunday as the Pirates clobbered La Salle, 12-1.

Men’s hoops
Davidson County Community College won against Sandhills, 108-96, and took the conference championship.
Next for coach Matt Ridge’s Storm is a trip to Georgia for the District 7 Tournament. The Storm will open tournament play at 8 p.m. on Friday.

Women’s hoops
Alison Sobataka (West Rowan) played her final game for the Columbia Koalas on Wednesday.
In four seasons, Sobataka played in 117 games. She scored 620 points and had 360 rebounds and 170 assists. She made 91 3-pointers.
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Eighth-seeded Pfeiffer opens tournament play tonight at No. 1 seed Limestone at 7 p.m.
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In the SAC tournament, Catawba’s women will play at No. 2 seed Anderson in on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Women’s golf
Richmond’s Isabella Rusher (Salisbury) shot 76 on Sunday in the first round of the Kiawah Island Classic.

7th-grade basketball
West Rowan’s girls won against Mooresville, 36-30.
Trinity Moreland had 15 points. The West defense was lead by Kenadi Sproul, Devin Martin, Allie Burns and Brooke Kennerly.
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West’s girls (9-3) won against Southeast, 48-34.
Moreland had 19 points, and Kennerly scored 15.
Sproul, Martin and Burns were outstanding on defense.

Prep soccer
East Rowan-Salisbury girls soccer scheduled for today was postponed.

College softball
Pfeiffer went 6-0 over the weekend and is now 15-1 for the season.
Pfeiffer has won 41 of its last 46 outings.
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Western Carolina’s Hunter Gibbons (West Rowan) had two homers and eight RBIs in the Catamounts’ first four games.
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Catawba is 5-16 after going 1-3 in weekend games in Spartanburg, S.C.
Catawba split on Sunday, winning against Mount Olive, 7-4, but losing to UNC Pembroke, 4-2.
In the Mount Olive game, Ashley Wagoner had a two-run double. Katherine Shumaker and Grace Holland also had RBIs in a five-run Catawba first inning.
Brooke Walser (4-4) got the win in the circle. She fanned six and retired 13 of the final 14 she faced. Caroline Turner had three hits.
In the second game, Kristen Stinnard had two hits for the Indians. Turner pitched well in a long relief appearance. She struck out eight.
On Saturday, Catawba lost 10-2 to Limestone and 2-0 to Flagler.
Stinnard and Delane Smith had two hits each against Limestone.
Kaylee Cook (A.L. Brown) pitched well in the loss to Flagler. Stinnard had three hits.
Catawba travels to Columbus, Ga., next weekend for another tournament.

College tennis
Both Catawba tennis teams won at Mars Hill by 7-2 margins.
Catawba’s women are 9-2 and 2-2 in the SAC. Catawba’s men are 7-4, 3-1.

Local golf
McCanless Couples:
The team of Charlie Davis, Faye Clne, Bev Cobb and Susan Wydner eked out a victory over the team of Mary Seaford, Harry Owens, Lexi Miller and Melinda Rigger.
It was nip and tuck, but Cobb managed to sink the longest putt to save the win.

NBA: Hornets
Blake Griffin scored 43 points as the L.A. Clippers beat the Charlotte Hornets, 124-121, in overtime, late Sunday. Kemba Walker scored 34 for Charlotte, while Nick Batum had 31.